How long does a fragrance last before going bad?

I have a friend who is wanting to sell me a 2011 bottle of Penhaligon's used once or twice. Its about or close to 2 years old. Will it start to go bad or weaken soon or should I go with a fresher bottle or will the fragrance last a long time if it has been kept in its box?

Re: How long does a fragrance last before going bad?

Sitting on a 2007 bottle of Bois Du Portugal by Creed stored correctly (I assume, Oslo_fjord ) and it smells DIVINE still after all these years.

As said, not too warm, not too much moisture in the air and no direct sunlight and you'll be good for huge amounts of time.

Now, regarding light from say a standard lamp. Is that regarded as unfortunate? I have my cabinet only .5 meters away from a lamp, and it's on now and then, probably giving some "indirect" light through the glass wall on my collection. Should I be superduper-worried? I'm not, to be honest ... but these are my babies seeing as I don't have any real babies ... so warn me if I should freak out every time the light is on

Re: How long does a fragrance last before going bad?

I have a few bottles that would be old enough to drink if they were people and they are all still fine. And, just as a note, I never until the last few years, took any really special precautions in the storage of my fragrances.

Re: How long does a fragrance last before going bad?

i've wondered about the truth behind that light and heat destroys your fragrance talk...i've kept a cologne which I received as a bday present in 2003 (Sr8) in the bathroom (humid, light, etc.) and in 2012 it still hasn't changed. Granted, it was never that good to begin with, but smell is intact.

Re: How long does a fragrance last before going bad?

Fragrances can easily last 10yrs+ if stored correctly. At only 2yrs old, your friend would have to be storing the fragrance extremely incorrectly for it to turn.

Btw which Penhaligons is it?

English Fern

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I have one of those travel/refill (plastic) bottles of Geo F Trumper's Spanish Leather. Should I keep it in a drawer away from any light since it is in a plastic bottle or would it be fine to keep on top of my dresser?

Re: How long does a fragrance last before going bad?

One of the most debated topics in fragrances imo. And yet to really be confirmed by a chemist. But, based on my personal experience.. I think, if kept right (buying a refrigerator just for fragrances is a bit ridiculous), and stored properly.. They can go for many many years. I have some fragrances that are nearly 10 years old, that smell the same as when I bought them. I think the biggest thing really, is a sort of olfactory fatigue. When you stop wearing something for so long, then go back to it, it may smell different or even "expired"; when it's not really the fragrance itself, just your olfactory senses.

Re: How long does a fragrance last before going bad?

personally ive just started this hobby about a year odd and im taking precautions like keeping it away from sunlight and heat. from personal experience my bottle of Armani Attitude lost its sillage and longevity (yes it wasnt that good to begin with but it became alcohol like late) after i carried the whole bottle around with me when i hit the gym. so probably the heat and constant shaking killed the frag

Re: How long does a fragrance last before going bad?

Originally Posted by comfortablynumbbg

i've wondered about the truth behind that light and heat destroys your fragrance talk...i've kept a cologne which I received as a bday present in 2003 (Sr8) in the bathroom (humid, light, etc.) and in 2012 it still hasn't changed. Granted, it was never that good to begin with, but smell is intact.

I gaurantee if that bathroom has a shower then it has changed. Could it be that it is that old because you don't like it and think it hasn't changed because you still don't like it?

I have friends who used to keep frags in the bathroom and wondered why they just smelled of alcohol after a few months before I told them why.

Re: How long does a fragrance last before going bad?

Heat and light are definitely two killers of frags. It also depends on the ingredients of the frag also. A lot of these newer frags don't seem to last as long because there are so many synthetic ingredients in them. A frag with more natural ingredients will probably last a little longer.

Re: How long does a fragrance last before going bad?

forever and ever if u stored it in dark place with regular temp in theory ( in reality 5-6 y. no matter how hard u try to keep it safe , after that he becomes weaker and weaker .... and in the end u won't reckognize him...)

Re: How long does a fragrance last before going bad?

I can't agree with 5-6 years posted above, that would render all the vintage thousands of dollars scents on the net useless. I agree that keeping them away from light, heat and moisture is optimal, but how long indeed a frag can last is likely up to itself. A quality fragrance I think and have heard from experienced people could last decades if stored correctly.

Re: How long does a fragrance last before going bad?

From Basenotes to everywhere else on the internet that I've read, seems like the overwhelming consensus is that, in general, fragrances do not expire as long as they're stored properly (i.e. out of sunlight & the right temperature).

Re: How long does a fragrance last before going bad?

I gaurantee if that bathroom has a shower then it has changed. Could it be that it is that old because you don't like it and think it hasn't changed because you still don't like it?

I have friends who used to keep frags in the bathroom and wondered why they just smelled of alcohol after a few months before I told them why.

you could be right, it's a really cheap ass cologne, even when it was brand new it was more alcohol resembling than perfumish, but still though since 2003 in the bathroom and still gives off same vibe as far as i remember, impressive.....for a bad frag lol

Re: How long does a fragrance last before going bad?

I would really like to see some objective facts on this. I'm very hesitant to believe that fragrances "turn" after only a year or two that you sometimes read, because the industry obviously has an interest in marketing fragrances as fresh goods that need frequent replacement.

Re: How long does a fragrance last before going bad?

The perfume oils are in alcohol of the highest percent. It is a preservative of the oldest kind. To spoil a frag needs some pretty bad external influences that are more powerful than the alcohols preserving powers. Sunlight and heat being the main contenders. Oh, and time of course.

Re: How long does a fragrance last before going bad?

I have fragrances of 10+ age after the purchase date (not even considering the manufacturing date, just calculating based on the very moment I bought them) and they have never gone bad so far, nor significantly lost longevity, projection etc.